cobra

All posts in “cobra”

Copper Cobra

I don’t know about you, but I rather like the idea of shoehorning a massive V8 engine into a small, lightweight car to create a supercar, and that’s exactly what happened when Caroll Shelby created the 427 S/C Cobra Semi-Competition model back in the Sixties, we’ve covered a few of these cars earlier already, but now we came across something a bit different.

1965 Shelby 427 S/C Cobra ‘CSX 4602’ ©2021 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

You might wonder about the chassis number listed here, CSX 4602, that seems a bit high no? Well, it isn’t, because in the 90s Carroll Shelby started building ‘continuation’ cars, new Cobra models that came with a CSX 4xxx chassis to distinguish them from the classic 1960s originals, but still recognized as ‘real’ Shelby Cobra cars.

These continuation Cobra were built in Las Vegas, Nevada, on brand new frames to be fitted with either a fiberglass or an aluminum body, before being painted and usually fitted with those trademark racing stripes running from the front to the rear … but there were exceptions, as is evident on chassis CSX 4602 we see here.

This one is made strictly on commission by Kirkham Motorsports of Provo, Utah, which takes a rolling chassis from Shelby and builds his own body, still in the style of the original 60s cars, but made from copper instead of the usual aluminum … painstakingly hand-formed, this Copper Cobra uses 17 panels joined together to create this famous shape, and it’s done at such a high level of craftsmanship you can’t even see the seams anymore.

Chassis CSX 4602 is finished in a high-gloss, polished copper body, but Kirkham had the famous pair of LeMans stripes brushed to offset them from the glistering body, extremely nice, this is also known as ‘ghost stripes’ I’ve been told, and while your fellow drivers on the open road might not like you very much on a sunny day, this is a stunning car nonetheless.

Naturally, the car rolls on the classic, 15-inch Halibrand-style wheels with the required knock-off fitting, and to make the classic look complete, a set of ‘billboard’ Goodyear Eagle tires with the massive scripting on the side, this isn’t a restomod look, this is the original 1960s look they are going for here.

But there is nothing ‘1960s’ about the engine, chassis CSX 4602 comes with a brand new Carroll Shelby Engine Company, hand-built 468-cubic inch ‘427 FE’ V-8 engine that delivers 550 hp (580 lb-ft of torque) via a 5-speed transmission to the rear wheels, given this Copper Cobra weighs in at only 2,400 pound, you are happy to learn they fitted some strong disk brakes to help master that much power on so little weight.

This amazing, shiny Copper Cobra is currently listed for private sale via RM Sotheby’s at $475,000, located in New York.

March 11, 2021 / Comments Off

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AC Cobra Superblower

In 1901 Weller Bros. was founded in London, in the UK, but we know them better as AC Cars now, and they are celebrating their 120th anniversary with a very special series of AC Cobra Superblower models, and to mark their 120 years in the business of building cars, only 12 units will be made, listed at £129,500 (US$ 180,000).

Joyce in 200 mile race AC – long wheelbase 1921/22

AC Cars managed to set several milestones in automotive history, back in 1921 they were the first ones to have a car manage 100 miles in one hour with a 2-liter engine, in 1950 they introduced the lightweight AC Ace that would later become the base for the legendary AC Cobra from the 60s, and now 12 cars to celebrate 12 decades of existence come with a legacy beyond the special paint and twin stripes.

Over the months, AC Cars is turning to innovative, high performance electric cars that will couple speed and power with near silence, this change is important in their history, going from the massive V8 engines to electric, these 12 commemorative Superblowers will be the last of an era, with a supercharged, 580 hp V8 engine, and they will come a the race inspired livery with the famous center of the bonnet and boot stripes which mark the glory years of its racing pedigree.

AC Cars offers the option of five colors on these Superblowers, AC Red, AC Blue, AC British Racing Green, AC Yellow all come with white stripes, while a special edition comes in a distinctive blue signature shade with orange stripes.

Alan Lubinsky: “We are near the end of an era. In time we’ll be saying a final farewell to the iconic AC Cobra. My question is: Will we ever see (and hear) its like again? My answer is – these celebration cars guarantee that the legend that is the AC Cobra will live on into the future and outlive the ICE Age. We are looking forward to selling a truly hot car in a sunny climate.”

March 9, 2021 / Comments Off

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1966 SHELBY COBRA 427 SUPER SNAKE

I have to admit, I rather like the Shelby Cobra, putting a massive V8 engine into a lightweight body, styled like these are … a Cobra looks sexy. And they are demanding a serious bank account to add to your garage, just read up on our story on Carroll Shelby’s personal 427 Cobra Chassis CSX3178, that sold for $5,940,000 at the Mecum Kissimmee auction in January 2021 … but this one might fetch an even higher bid at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction in late March .

This car is a unique Cobra, CSX 3015 is one of only 23 original 427 Competition Roadster, and it is the only surviving 1966 Super snake, back in 2015 this specific car sold for $5,100,000 at auction, we’re six years down the road now, so chances are this Guardsman Blue beauty will be even more expensive this time around.

Craig Jackson, CEO of Barrett-Jackson:

“This is the ultimate, it was made to go kick Ferrari’s ass on the street after just doing it on the track.”

Not only does this specific Shelby Cobra come with a 427ci V8 engine, it also has two Paxton superchargers fitted by Caroll Shelby himself, because of the massive power, he also had to fit a 3-speed automatic transmission … this Super Snake was fast … extremely fast … 190 mph is no problem at all behind the wheel of this Super Snake.

Chassis CSX 3015 was actually shipped to the UK in September 1965, together with CSX 3014 and two R-model Shelbys, both CSX chassis were original 427 Competition roadsters, these didn’t have mufflers, nor a windshield, nor any bumpers, these were Competition models, race cars … and these weren’t street legal.

The CSX 3015 came back from Europe in late 1966, still in her factory original Competition form, but in 1967 Caroll Shelby turned her into a Super Snake, and turned her into a Cobra 427 SC model (for Semi-Competition), adding mufflers and a windshield, thus making the car legal to drive on the open road. In fact all Cobra 427 SC models were street-legal, but most of them only saw a track during their lifetime.

There was a second Super Snake built, based on a 1967 427 road car, chassis CSX 3303 was initially a public relations car, but Shelby America converted her into a Super Snake too, sold to a dealer in San Fransisco after which she ended up with Tony Maxey … unfortunately both Tony and CSX 3303 got involved in a serious, lethal accident, the car was a total-loss, which makes CSX 3015 the only Super Snake in the world.

Today chassis CSX 3015 is considered a genuine Competition roadster with original body (which is different from other Cobra 427 SC models), and includes the 1967 Super Snake hood, the Girling CR and BR calipers are still date coded to 1965, and the original 377 rear end with oil cooler and pumps are genuine 427 Competition spec.

The 5m17 427ci V8 engine block is date-coded to December 17, 1965, with the original headers and those impressive, chrome side pipes … the estimate for this unique Cobra 427 Super Snake is set between $5,000,000 and $8,000,000 … and I couldn’t have put it any better than Craig Jackson himself, when he stated:

“This car is a very special car, it’s Carroll’s personal car, one he built for himself. You just don’t get any rarer than that.”

February 20, 2021 / Comments Off

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